Montreux and AI

What does Montreux—a serene Swiss town nestled by Lake Léman—have to do with Artificial Intelligence?

At first glance, nothing. But let me explain…

Last week, I was invited to speak at a conference in Lyon about the transformative impact of AI on the sales profession. To frame my talk, I posed three essential questions:

  1. What can salespeople do that AI cannot?
  2. What can AI do that salespeople cannot?
  3. What can neither accomplish alone?

The audience was intrigued by all three, but the first question struck the deepest chord. My answer?

“Have a cup of coffee with a customer.”

A simple, almost trivial act—yet deeply significant.

Over the weekend, my wife and I visited Montreux for a comedy festival. While strolling along the tranquil lakeside, I was struck by something intangible: a feeling of calm, warmth, and openness. The town seemed to radiate a quiet charm that words or data could not capture.

It was my first time in Montreux, and I stayed just one night. I had no metrics, no rational evidence to confirm my impressions. Yet, I felt it—deeply.

This experience brought me back to the first question. No AI could replicate or articulate what I felt in Montreux. AI cannot sense the subtleties of a space, the unspoken energy of a room, or the nuances of human connection.

As salespeople, we do this instinctively. When I visit a customer’s office, I can sense whether employees are happy or tense, whether the culture is thriving or brittle. These are moments of human intuition, often unspoken but profoundly impactful.

Here’s the paradox: as AI becomes more integrated into our world, it will underscore the value of what it cannot do. It will force us to reevaluate the things we take for granted—our empathy, intuition, and ability to connect on a human level.

In a world increasingly driven by algorithms, these “soft” skills are not just nice-to-haves; they are irreplaceable.

Montreux reminded me that humanity thrives in the spaces where AI cannot reach. It is in these moments—sharing a laugh, sensing an atmosphere, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee—that we discover what it truly means to be human.

So perhaps AI isn’t here to replace us. Instead, it’s here to help us rediscover ourselves.